Top 3 performances of Aravinda de Silva in Tests

Aravinda de Silva was born on this day, October 17, in 1965, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He made his Sri Lanka Test debut in 1984 and went on to play 93 tests till his retirement in 2002.

Aravinda de Silva made 6361 runs at an average of 42.97 in 93 Tests, including 20 centuries and 22 fifties, with the highest score of 267. He also picked 26 wickets in Test cricket. As he celebrates his 60th birthday, let’s have a look at three of his top performances in Test cricket.

Here are the top 3 performances of Aravinda de Silva in tests:

3. 138* and 103* vs Pakistan, Colombo SSC, 1997

Sri Lanka and Pakistan clashed in the second Test of the series in Colombo SSC in April 1997. Arjuna Ranatunga won the toss and chose to bat first as Sri Lanka made 331, with Aravinda de Silva making 138* with 19 fours to his name. In response, Pakistan made 292, with Moin Khan getting 98 and Sajeewa de Silva taking 5/85.

In the second innings, de Silva starred with the bat again, as he hammered the Pakistan bowlers in his unbeaten 103 in 99 balls, perfectly complimenting Sanath Jayasuriya, who scored 113. The match ended in a draw, as Pakistan made 285/5 in their second innings, with Saleem Malik making 155.

2. 206 vs Bangladesh, Colombo PSS, 2002

This was de Silva’s swansong Test and his only appearance in whites against Bangladesh. Bangladesh were bowled out for 161 in the first innings after being asked to bat first. Sri Lanka then mounted a full-blown assault on Bangladesh, scoring 541/9d as de Silva made 206 in 234 balls with 28 fours and one six, while Jayasuriya got 145 of his own.

De Silva’s knock was enough for Sri Lanka to win the Test by an innings and 196 runs, as Muthiah Muralitharan’s fifers in both innings and 10 wickets in the match ensured that Bangladesh were skittled out for 184 in the second innings. de Silva became part of an elusive club of batters with a double hundred in the final Test.

1. 267 vs New Zealand, Wellington, 1991

Aravinda de Silva scored his Test career-best in the first match of the three-Test series against New Zealand in 1991. This match was played in Wellington and saw New Zealand being asked to bat first and score 174.

In response, Sri Lanka made 497 runs, with de Silva making a record 267 runs with 40 fours to his name as he hammered Danny Morrison and Chris Pringle and co. New Zealand made 671/4 in their second innings, thanks to 299 by Martin Crowe and 186 by Andrew Jones.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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